CF NOTEBOOK

Patriots opening gates for free for tonight’s key game vs. Santa Fe

Published: Monday, February 24, 2014 at 11:08 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, February 24, 2014 at 11:08 p.m.

The College of Central Florida has a lot on the line on tonight in its quest to qualify for the FCSAA State Tournament, which is being played on the CF campus next week.

The defending NJCAA National Champion CF Men’s Basketball team hosts Santa Fe College on tonight at 7:30 for the Mid-Florida Conference runner-up spot and a berth in the state tournament, which begins on March 5 in Ocala.

Admission to tonight’s game is free.

“We want to thank everyone who has supported the program this season and we felt this was a great way to do it,” CF athletic director Bob Zelinski said. “We want to get as many people here as we can to support our team.”

Meanwhile the CF women will travel to Gainesville to face Santa Fe tonight at 7 for the third-place spot in the Mid-Florida Conference and its accompanying automatic berth to the state tournament.

MID-FLORIDA CONFERENCE HONORS: CF’s Javonte Douglas was named the Mid-Florida Conference Player of the Year. Douglas, who earned conference player and honorable mention NJCAA All-America honors last season at Hill (Texas) College, averaged 16.7 points and 9.1 rebounds this season for the Patriots.

Joining Douglas on the first team were sophomores Rasham Suarez and Rodell Wigginton.

Making it to the second team for the Patriots were Kai Jones and Mhykeah Baez.

Scott, a former Star-Banner Player of the Year from West Port High School, scored in double figures 32 times during her career at CF and has averaged 11 points during her two years with the Patriots. She had a career-high of 26 points in a win over Miami Dade earlier this season.

Jones, a transfer from the University of Tampa, averaged 11 points per game as a sophomore and is the daughter of CF head coach Tommy Jones.

Baez has scored in double figures nine times, grabbed double-digit rebounds in eight games and has eight games with four or more blocked shots

<p>The College of Central Florida has a lot on the line on tonight in its quest to qualify for the FCSAA State Tournament, which is being played on the CF campus next week.</p><p>The defending NJCAA National Champion CF Men's Basketball team hosts Santa Fe College on tonight at 7:30 for the Mid-Florida Conference runner-up spot and a berth in the state tournament, which begins on March 5 in Ocala.</p><p>Admission to tonight's game is free.</p><p>“We want to thank everyone who has supported the program this season and we felt this was a great way to do it,” CF athletic director Bob Zelinski said. “We want to get as many people here as we can to support our team.”</p><p>Meanwhile the CF women will travel to Gainesville to face Santa Fe tonight at 7 for the third-place spot in the Mid-Florida Conference and its accompanying automatic berth to the state tournament.</p><p><b>MID-FLORIDA CONFERENCE HONORS:</b> CF's Javonte Douglas was named the Mid-Florida Conference Player of the Year. Douglas, who earned conference player and honorable mention NJCAA All-America honors last season at Hill (Texas) College, averaged 16.7 points and 9.1 rebounds this season for the Patriots.</p><p>Joining Douglas on the first team were sophomores Rasham Suarez and Rodell Wigginton.</p><p>Suarez, a Southern Mississippi signee, averaged 15.1 points and 5.2 assists, while Wigginton, an Ohio University signee, scores 15.9 points per game.</p><p>Chris Bryant and Richard Granberry were second-team selections for the Patriots.</p><p>Bryant has averaged 11.7 points and 7.7 rebounds in the post for CF and Granberry, a freshman, has been a solid performer on the inside.</p><p>For the CF women, R'Kyiah Scott earned first-team all-conference honors.</p><p>Making it to the second team for the Patriots were Kai Jones and Mhykeah Baez.</p><p>Scott, a former Star-Banner Player of the Year from West Port High School, scored in double figures 32 times during her career at CF and has averaged 11 points during her two years with the Patriots. She had a career-high of 26 points in a win over Miami Dade earlier this season.</p><p>Jones, a transfer from the University of Tampa, averaged 11 points per game as a sophomore and is the daughter of CF head coach Tommy Jones.</p><p>Baez has scored in double figures nine times, grabbed double-digit rebounds in eight games and has eight games with four or more blocked shots</p><p><b>STATE TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE:</b> The College of Central Florida will host the FCSAA State Tournament beginning March 5. The tentative schedule for the men is: March 5 — Daytona State vs. Pensacola State, 1 p.m.; St. Petersburg vs. Miami Dade, 3 p.m.; Eastern Florida State vs. Polk/State College of Florida winner, 6 p.m; Chipola vs. CF/Santa Fe, 8 p.m.; March 7 — Semifinals: 1 and 3 p.m.; March 8 — Championship game: 5 p.m.</p><p>For the women: March 6 — St. Petersburg vs. CF/Santa Fe winner, 1 p.m.; Northwest Florida State vs. Hillsborough, 3 p.m.; Chipola vs. Palm Beach State, 6 p.m.; FSC-Jacksonville vs. Indian River State, 8 p.m.; March 7 — Semifinals, 6 and 8 p.m.; March 8 — Championship Game, 7:30 p.m.</p>